Cornea

What is Cornea?

Cornea is the transparent outermost layer of the human eye. Technically speaking, the cornea is not a single layer; it’s made of five delicate membranes that are arranged one below the other. Cornea plays a major role in focussing your vision; its transparency and its curvy shape helps in refracting light from an object in a way that it falls at the perfect spot on the retina thereby enabling sharpness of vision. In addition to this, the cornea also acts as a protective layer preventing all the dust, dirt and germs from entering into the inside of our eyes. Now, that’s quite an important role to play, ain’t it?

Corneal Transplant

When the loss of corneal transparency is the cause of visual loss, corneal transplantation is the method of choice of treatment. When whole thickness of cornea is affected or damaged due to the corneal disease, a full thickness corneal transplantation is done. The damaged cornea of the patient is completely removed and a healthy cornea from a donor’s eye is transplanted.

However, with latest advances, we are able to identify injury restricted to the thinnest layers of the cornea. Remember, the entire cornea itself is only about half a millimeter in thickness.

We can now remove only the damaged layers of the cornea rather than the whole cornea & these treatments have revolutionized the practice of eye transplantation.

Our Chairman, Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal, has invented one of the most advanced form of corneal transplant called PDEK (Pre Descemet’s endothelial keratoplasty) to treat cases where only the innermost layers of the cornea are replaced and this is done without stitches. Since a very thin tissue is transplanted, the healing time is rapid, the risk of infection and induced astigmatism is extremely low. Plus, graft rejection is very rare. However, it is a very delicate procedure and requires the skills of an expert surgeon.

Corneal problems

The corneal surface and its structure are very delicate. Any injury or infection of the cornea can lead to damage leading to loss of corneal transparency and thereby disrupting the normal vision. Common problems that affect the cornea include, corneal ulcers, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) and keratoconus (thinning of the cornea) apart from the allergies, infections like herpes and the corneal abrasions caused by external injuries. Common symptoms produced are:

Pain
Reduced Vision
Inability to open eyes in bright light
Redness
Watering
Swelling of the eyelid

Did you know?

The cornea has no blood vessels within it. It gets all its nourishment from your tears and a fluid called the aqueous humor that’s filled behind the cornea.

Corneal treatment – what are the options?

Corneal Diseases require multi-modality of medications which help in reducing the symptoms and curing the disease. Also, these diseases take a very long duration of treatment and frequent follow-ups. The most important factor for early healing and recovery is patient’s compliance to use medications religiously as per the instructions. In cases of infections of cornea, small amounts of superficial corneal tissue is removed (scrapping) and evaluated for presence of type of infection and the organism causing it. Depending on the results, specific medications for that infection are given to help faster recovery.

FAQ

What is the Cornea and its Function?

The cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped outer layer of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Its primary function is to refract light, focusing it onto the lens and retina to facilitate vision.

What Causes Corneal Damage or Injury?

Corneal damage can occur due to various factors such as eye injuries, infections, allergies, or underlying medical conditions like dry eye syndrome. Environmental factors like excessive UV exposure or contact lens misuse can also contribute to corneal problems.

What are Common Corneal Conditions?

Common corneal conditions include keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), corneal abrasions, corneal dystrophies (such as Fuchs' dystrophy), and corneal ulcers. These conditions can cause symptoms like pain, redness, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.

How are Corneal Disorders Treated?

Treatment for corneal disorders depends on the specific condition and its severity. It may include medications such as antibiotics or steroids, lubricating eye drops, bandage contact lenses, or surgical interventions like corneal transplantation or refractive surgery.

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